Demand-side response towards optimizing energy and infrastructure usages in the electricity supply market: smart grid tools

Abstract

The presented scheme allows electricity users to make use of the continuous and simultaneous information communicated to them on the internet by the Australian Energy Market Operator enabling them to be acting on controlling, deferring or curtailing own demand by using computer-controlled switches. This technique is applicable in Eastern and Southern Australia where the electricity market is managed by the Australian Energy Market Operator. Coordinated strategies shall help improved use of electricity power plants and pertinent infrastructure besides an integrated use of different energy sources. The study illustrates further the importance of the plant capacity factor (PCF) showing how that electrical generators operating at a PCF less than the unity (less than 8760 hour/year) are as a matter of a fact producing quite expensive energy. The study suggests extending the scheme to integrate electrical supply systems in other energy sectors, such as in hybrid transport, helping thus substantially improving the PCF of the whole electricity system. The scheme is inherently restricted to take effect only in frame of tariff regimes made to encourage and reward conscious users being proactively participating in holistic energy management strategies.